On 29 October one of Germany's leading newspapers Die Ziet published rankings of political science departments in the EU. The 'excellence rankings' were made by the Centre for Higher Education Development in Germany to 'highlight the research strengths and internationalisation of European higher education institutions'. The Department at Strathclyde was ranked as one of an 'Excellence Group' of political science departments in Europe. The results reflected the Department's 'outstanding achievement in publications, citations and staff mobility'.
The Food Standards Agency announced on 16 September that John Curtice is to chair an independent steering group that will advise the Agency on its consumer engagement work on genetic modification (GM). The Agency is embarking on research into consumer understanding of GM and public perceptions of GM’s risks and benefits. The project also explores how people can be helped to make informed choices about the food they eat.
Chris Carman, James Mitchell and Rob Johns collected the Lawrence Longley award at the American Political Science Association's annual meeting in Toronto (3-6 September). The prize, for the best article published on representation and electoral systems in 2008, was awarded by the APSA's Representation and Electoral Systems Section for their paper 'The Unfortunate Natural Experiment in Ballot Design' published in Electoral Studies.
The Department hosted the Annual EPOP conference (28-30 August). Organised by Chris Carman, with able assistance from his CERS colleagues, John Curtice and Rob Johns - and sponsored by MORI Social Research Institute, Holyrood Magazine, and Total Politics - the conference brought together more than 80 influential political experts, from academic, journalistic and party political circles.
Conference sessions explored political ideologies, campaigns and policies in the UK, at national and devolved levels. The MPs' expenses controversy and the emergence of online campaigning were debated in two lively round-table events.
Mark Shephard, always regarded by his colleagues as a work of art, has received official confirmation that he does, indeed, have the potential to become an 'old masterpiece'. Mark will take part in the 'one & other' art project in Trafalgar Square by performing on the Square's 25-foot high fourth plinth on 1 August between 11.00 pm and midnight.
Mark is raising money for the University's Malawi project: www.strath.ac.uk/malawi/
His Head of Department said: 'Mark will be pursuing his passion for art while raising awareness of the University's work and connections with Malawi. What a plinther!'
Chris Carman, James Mitchell and Rob Johns have just been informed that their paper 'The Unfortunate Natural Experiment in Ballot Design' has won the 2009 Lawrence Longley award. This prize is awarded by the Representation and Electoral Systems Section of the American Political Science Association for the best article published on representation and electoral systems in 2008. Chris, James and Rob will collect this award at the APSA's annual meeting in Toronto in September.
Rob Johns has been awarded a grant of £195,176 by the ESRC (RES-062-23-1952) for an in-depth study of foreign policy opinion and attitudes to war among the British public. Working with his co-investigator, Graeme Davies of Aberystwyth University, Rob will use an innovative combination of surveys and experiments in order to map the nature and structure of public attitudes on foreign policy questions, and to explore the circumstances under which citizens will support or oppose the use of force. The project starts in September 2009 and continues until February 2012.
Unlike voters, who recorded historically low participation rates in the European Parliament elections June 4th-7th, members of the department had a 'high turnout' in providing data analysis and commentary on the elections for TV, radio and newspapers. John Curtice headed the team of analysts for the BBC's coverage UK-wide, James Mitchell provided expert commentary for BBC TV Scotland, and Chris Carman provided data analysis and informed opinion on BBC Radio Scotland.
Ten years after the inaugural session of the Scottish Parliament on 12 May 2009 two new books by members of the department offer broad-ranging analyses of devolution.
Devolution in the UK by James Mitchell, offers a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the territorial constitution of the UK in the early 21st century. Making a convincing case that the UK should be understood as a state of distinct unions each with its own deeply rooted past and trajectory, the book has been hailed as 'a triumphant success' and the 'best account so far of devolution which should be required reading for all our political leaders' (Richard Wyn Jones, Director of the Wales Governance Centre).
The Scottish Parliament 1999-2009: The First Decade, edited by Charlie Jeffery (University of Edinburgh) and James Mitchell, provides the opportunity for distinguished commentators, academics and parliamentarians to reflect upon the development of the Scottish Parliament over the past decade. The contributors include five other members of the department: Chris Carman, John Curtice, Rob Johns, Neil McGarvey and Mark Shephard.